Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Grizzled SkipperDingy SkipperThese shots were the only ones I have so far managed to rescue from a corrupted SD card (big thanks go out to Bob Martin from Practical Photography for his time and skills employed to retrieve my pics!). The insects were at Old Sulehay quarry, and Jas, Ed and I had a lot of fun trying to get decent images of these two gems of scarce local butterflies. (Canon PowerShot A640)

Monday, May 12, 2008

When I was a child, I thought the Woodcock was the Peewit – somehow the name suited the extraordinary appearance of this most charismatic of our waders. You could still sort of argue that that is what they squeak between croaks in the magnificent roding display flight.I had a joyous evening at a site near here on Friday, watching multiple roding Woodcocks, including a pair chasing each other with short excited clipped notes. Grasshopper Warblers were everywhere, Nightingales trying to out-dominate them. Tawny Ows hooted and a Barn Owl screeched repeatedly, while an angry Chinese Water Deer barked out its evil warning.But best of all was a duetting pair of Long-eared Owls, with one bird even indulging in a spot of wing-clap display.Pure summer joy for the lover of the glorious, crepuscular gloaming.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Temminck's Stint, Maxey pits, 10.5.08 (digiscope). We've been waiting for one of these for a while now. There was report with sketch from last year, but this is the first time multiple observers have connected with one of these cute creeps at the 'new' site at Maxey. Still presetn on 11.5.08.